North Carolina
Department of Health and Human Services

For Release: IMMEDIATE
Date: January 23, 2007

Contact: Debbie Crane

Public Health Officials Warning in Wake of Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning

Check
your furnace and have working CO detectors

RALEIGH ¬– Five people in Greensboro could have died this
past weekend when a crack in their furnace’s heat exchanger allowed
carbon monoxide (CO) to leak into their home. That close call is prompting
public health officials to warn about the dangers of carbon monoxide
poisoning, especially during cold snaps.

“This kind of situation is preventable,” said Kay Sanford,
public health epidemiologist in the Injury and Violence Prevention
Branch of the state Division of Public Health. “You should get
your furnace checked annually to make sure it is in good shape, and
everyone should install CO detectors.”

The Greensboro home did not have a CO detector. Carbon monoxide detectors
are available at hardware and home supply stores.

Sanford says cold weather also poses other potential CO problems,
especially during power outages. “You should never use charcoal
to cook or heat inside a home,” says Sanford. “And, you
have to be really careful when using generators. They should never
be put in an enclosed space like a garage, or near windows, since carbon
monoxide may leak into the house. “

Sanford says CO poisonings have also occurred when people left their
cars heating up on cold winter mornings inside garages.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can often be confused with
flu-like symptoms or even food poisoning. They include severe headaches,
dizziness, shortness of breath, mental confusion, nausea, or feeling
faint. If you suspect carbon monoxide is present in your home, Sanford’s
advice is to get out of the house immediately, get fresh air and seek
medical help.

If you or a family member experience symptoms that you think could
be from CO poisoning:

GET FRESH AIR IMMEDIATELY. Open doors and windows, turn off combustion
appliances and leave the house.

GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM and tell the physician you suspect CO
poisoning. If CO poisoning has occurred, it can often be diagnosed
by a blood
test done soon after exposure.

DON’T IGNORE THE SYMPTOMS, particularly if more than
one person is feeling them. You could lose consciousness and die
if you do nothing. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those
of
the flu, food poisoning or other illnesses, you may not think that
CO poisoning could be the cause. See a doctor to be sure.

For more
information on carbon monoxide, see the Environmental Protection Agency
fact sheet, “Protect Your Family and Yourself from Carbon
Monoxide Poisoning,” at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html.